Consciousness as process — Our operating system

Before studying consciousness as a process, it is vital to distinguish the (free will) cognitive mind from the (automated) subconscious mind. The conscious ‘process’ is fixed by Creator, but its ‘content’ is determined by our free will. Some observations are in order.

• Our heart and lungs both work to uphold our lives from start to finish without pause. Trillions of cells in our body do the exact same, as do our vital organs and systems. Consciousness works exactly the same way, for the exact same purpose, but in the mental realm.
• The cognitive (or conscious) mind, being our brain, (home of awareness) is used for thinking and decision making, as actioned by free will.
• Subconscious mind is below awareness, and is fully automated. Its ‘operating software’ is programmed by the values we choose.
• Consciousness is the mental process that communicates spiritual values between the conscious and subconscious mind, whereby spirituality interfaces physicality. It is a creative life force — an operating system that spiritually upholds our lives.
• Free will is in charge, because, whether our organs prosper, or suffer, depends on what we choose to eat, drink, or breathe. The exact same applies to mental or spiritual values that we choose. 
• Accordingly, free will authors our values. Life is the supreme value. Absent life, nothing is of value. 
• Values that uphold life are the prime concern of our conscious process. Ideally, our chosen values will correspond with life sustaining values inherent in our automated subconscious mind, such that both our minds are on the same page. Beware! If we do not specifically and deliberately choose our values, subconscious mind will assimilate others by default, without our knowing. That circumstance is a recipe for disaster, but it is our choice.
• Material and spiritual values are communicated between the conscious and subconscious mind. This makes full consciousness our mental operating system. It interfaces and correlates physicality with our spiritual values, so as to inform us of our progress in both realms, via feelings. Physical matter is merely a tool box for our spiritual growth.

These matters form the essence of conscious intelligence since they are its driving  force.